Nothing makes me feel the same way as a steaming plate of pasta, smothered in some rich, aromatic sauce that’s like a hug on the tongue. Italian food to me is not just a meal, but a recollection of hot days spent in sun-scorched South Italy, where the sauces were full of luscious tomatoes and fragrant herbs. Those memories are the standard, one that home-made jarred sauces were seldom able to match. But time is flying, and although I adore slow-cooking homemade marinara, sometimes I have no choice but to sneak in a shortcut that still seems genuine. So I set out on a quest to locate a jarred pasta sauce that could stand up to those Italian memories-a sauce that tasted amazing, but transporting. Browsing through this ocean of options is intimidating, so I treated my kitchen as a taste lab, experimenting with widely available jarred sauces in search of one that lived up to my recollection. My requirements were specific: it needed to be great-tasting out of the jar, glisten when tossed over pasta, and retain its flavor in cooking. And here’s how my search proceeded, with victories and defeats, and a winner that won me over.
The Testing Process: A Delicious Adventure
I prepared equal amounts of pasta and arranged an assortment of jarred sauces, ranging from comforting familiar standbys to one or two unknown brands. I tasted each straight from the jar, then mixed with pasta, and lastly heated it up with a bit of olive oil to check its staying power. I didn’t want “good enough,” however. I wanted a sauce that would transport me to Italy’s cobblestone roads with each mouthful.
1. Good & Gather Three Cheeses: A Funky Flop
Good & Gather Three Cheeses was also a first, and it touted itself as a combination of cheddar, Parmesan, and Gouda. For a jar ($0.34 a serving) of $1.69, it packed 69 calories, 1.5g fat, 430mg sodium, 11g carbs, and 2g protein, with ¾ cup veggies per serving and no artificial colors.
The sauce was heavy but became watery when combined, with a strange, nearly artificial cheesy aroma. It tasted similarly terrible, with a strange aftertaste. I adore old cheese, but this overwhelmed. I prefer to sprinkle fresh Parmesan over a basic sauce. This one wasn’t selected.
2. Ragu Traditional Sauce: Nostalgic but Bland
Second was Ragu Traditional Sauce, a pantry favorite since 1937. The cost was $2.24 per jar ($0.45 per serving) and had 70 calories, 1g fat, 460mg sodium, 14g carbs, and 2g protein. I anticipated the nostalgic, old-fashioned taste of childhood.
The sauce was also over-puréed and too runny, with no herb or chunks of tomatoes in it. It tasted like my childhood microwave Ragu meals so flavorless but watery and nostalgic. It wasn’t horrible, but since there are better ones out there, this wasn’t my champion.
3. Francesco Rinaldi Traditional Sauce: Too Simple
Francesco Rinaldi Traditional Sauce contained pecorino romano and extra-virgin olive oil. It cost $2.12 per jar ($0.42 per serving) and contained 60 calories, 1g fat, 460mg sodium, 11g carbohydrates, and 2g protein.
It was just like plain tomato purée, diluted and free of smell. Keep it simple and straightforward in taste, and there was some sweetness present but not exciting. No-frills sauce is acceptable if that is what you are after, but it did not make me smile. I needed complexity.
4. Ragu Simply Traditional Sauce: An Improvement
Ragu Simply Traditional Sauce had no additional sugar and a purer ingredient list. It was $2.24 for a jar ($0.45 per serving), had 60 calories, 1g fat, 420mg sodium, 11g carbs, and 2g protein.
It was still pathetic, with a tomato soup aroma more than fresh herbs. It was faintly sweet, but not quite natural. It was an improvement over Ragu’s initial offering, but not that intense, authentic sauce I sought.
5. Good & Gather Tomato, Basil, and Garlic: Mild and Kid-Friendly
Good & Gather Tomato, Basil, and Garlic was the runner-up at $1.69 a jar ($0.34 a serving) with 60 calories, 2g of fat, 420mg of sodium, 9g of carbohydrates, and 2g of protein, and no artificial preservatives.
The vibrant red sauce was thin, with a pale tomato aroma and neither the flavor of basil nor garlic. Its pale, fresh flavor may appeal to children or one who desires milder taste, but it was not strong enough for me.
6. Classico Traditional Sweet Basil: A Sweet Contender
I was unfamiliar with Classico Traditional Sweet Basil. For $2.98 a jar ($0.60 a serving), it contained 60 calories, 0g fat, 460mg sodium, 12g carbs, and 2g protein but contained added sugar and citric acid.
The sauce was liquid but contained juicy tomato pieces and particles of basil. It was sweet and flavorful but not overwhelming, although I wished for additional basil. It’s nice for those who like sweet sauce, but it was not enough for me.
7. Carbone Marinara Sauce: Olive Oil Overdrive
Carbone Marinara Sauce also promised quality with Italian herbs and tomatoes. This was $8.49 per jar ($1.42 per serving), which contained 90 calories, 7g of fat, 410mg of sodium, 6g of carbohydrates, and 1g of protein.
It appeared oily and shiny with a light creamy aroma dominated by olive oil. It had a subtle taste with olive oil overwhelming the other flavors. It was beautiful for oil enthusiasts but not the well-balanced marinara I was looking for.
8. Prego Traditional Sauce: A Surprisingly Good Taste
Prego Traditional Sauce also did not fare well with a subpar ingredient list including added sugars and canola oil. It cost $2.59 for a jar ($0.52 per serving), and each serving contained 70 calories, 1g fat, 470mg sodium, 12g carbohydrates, and 2g protein.
The lean puréed sauce lacked many basil specks. To my surprise, the flavor was good with a hint of sweetness. It wasn’t as fresh, but it had a great traditional taste so it’s a contender.
9. Rao’s Homemade Marinara Sauce: Hype Worthy
Rao’s Homemade Marinara Sauce arrived with high expectations. At $6.79 per jar ($1.36 per serving), it contained 100 calories, 7g fat, 420mg of sodium, 6g of carbs, and 2g of protein and had a simple ingredient list.
It was beautiful rich, with bursts of bright basil. It was delicate in flavor, well-balanced, with soft tomato chunks. It was great but didn’t quite rank among my favorites, though its quality was impeccable.
10. Bertolli Tomato & Basil: Basil Bliss
Bertolli Tomato & Basil promised a lot of herbs. For $2.88 a jar ($0.58 a serving), it contained 70 calories, 2g fat, 350mg sodium, 12g carbs, and 2g protein.
The full-tasting sauce was dotted with basil and carried a sweet, floral scent. Its robust basil and deep tomato flavors stuck well to pasta. A delight for basil fans, this was a winner, a real standout, almost stealing the show.
11. Mezzetta Marinara Sauce: The Champion
Mezzetta Marinara Sauce, a company since 1935, was the final of my crop. For $3.98 a jar ($0.80 a serving), it contained 100 calories, 8g fat, 520mg sodium, 7g carbs, and 2g protein, with San Marzano tomatoes and no sugars.
The rich sauce had a fresh-tomato aroma, a guarantee of genuineness. The flavor was perfection harmony, freshness, and bring-back-my-Italian-busk memories. Each bite delectably tasted homemade made with love, so Mezzetta is my holy grail.
Final Thoughts: Your Ideal Sauce Awaits
My jarred pasta sauce experiment was a taste journey, with flops and favorites along the way. Mezzetta Marinara Sauce won me over, with the Southern Italian flavor I was looking for. Whatever you are looking for value, spice, or gourmet taste there’s a jar just for you. Open one, stir in with pasta, and have each bite transport you to Italy. Buon appetito!
